Microsoft has confirmed its plans to feature video games on the Zune by 2008. This feature will be launched in 18 months to compete with Apple's iPod's ability to support games.

This need for adaptation comes from Zune sales dropping in the music player market. In its first week of launch, Microsoft sold captured a respectable 9% of the MP3 player market, landing it in second place in the holiday consumer device rush. Zune sales dropped to fifth place the following week.

If Microsoft offers popular games for the Zune, while allowing for wireless gaming, it will throw the Zune into the competitive market with devices such as Sony's PSP, and Nintendo's DS. Also, with the device's 3-inch display, it is already adequate to handle gaming.

Adding video games is just one of the features Microsoft plans on adding to the Zune. The company announced that it wanted to add wireless video sharing and possibly fuse the device with a phone -- just minutes after the announcement of Apple's new gadget, the iPhone.

I can see what they were trying to do by announcing it immediately after the iPhone. That being said, it was still a really stupid call. At best, no one hears anything about it because it's totally overshadowed by Apple's announcement. At worst, it looks like a pathetic "oh man, I hope this iPhone announcement is really long so we can come up with something to say our product will have in 18 months." I mean, I guess it's good to say that you're looking to improve the Zune, but announcing something this lame this close to the iPhone announcement when it's not going to be available for 1.5 years is just silly.

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